Silence in the library: they’re speechless about the food

Ever since we officially stepped into the season of spring, and the sun slowly started to show its pretty face, I have been tripping on my toes to fulfil my inner craving and stop by Paludan Bogcafe.

Paludan Bogcafe, with its refreshing twist of being both an eating place and a secondhand bookshop, has permanently established its indispensability in the hearts of every Copenhagener. In other words, people wait in line to get a place because it is constantly stuffed (so it is worth making a reservation, either via email or over the phone; they also have a direct email address if one wishes to contact them for a particular book). Whether it is inside during winter, or outside at one of the way too few tables during summer, it does not make a great difference. What does make all the difference, however, is the story of how they began.

Founded as a mere bookstore/publishing company, the place has since transformed into a hip place where people go to satisfy their intellectual as well as material hunger. Entering through the golden doors, you firstly think that you’ve stepped into a private library, albeit with some remarkable exceptions. Because in this library you are allowed to eat, drink, and talk loudly. The café is divided between two different floors: the lower is mostly for people who are having a quick lunch, while the higher can be booked for study or a meeting place. Nevertheless, the rustic English furniture is perfectly executed on both levels, and the concept follows a clear red line that immediately yields a certain ‘feel good’ factor.

Open for brunch, lunch, and after-work drinks, Paludan Bogcafe manages to keep it real, both when it comes to the English style, but also when it comes to the unique variety of exciting dishes. Their menu offers the perfect recipe if you are in deep need for a break from your busy everyday life, or if you simply feel like indulging in a relaxing atmosphere.

Offering an extensive menu that includes everything from fair-trade coffee, brunch menus, and sassy salads, to large sandwiches, warm dishes, and exquisite desserts, the hard part is the actual choosing. However, my favourite has to be the Caesar Salad – a classic that just never dies. Having tasted a lot of different Caesar Salads, Paludan’s Bogcafe is without a doubt the best place to go if you want a salad that looks as good as it tastes. With its fresh ingredients, the salad comes with chicken, parmesan cheese, croutons, romaine lettuce, and pine nuts. Unlike so many other places, their many salads come in large portions served with home-baked bread and butter, so the possibility of leaving the place with a nagging hunger is close to zero.

Another one of my favourites has to be the ‘Today’s Special’. Changing every day according to the available products of the current season, the dish of the day leaves you with the possibility of making a spur-of-the-moment decision. By simply asking at the counter what the daily dish consists of, one is able to walk into a retro café without any expectations whatsoever – an impulsive choice that makes the visit not so much a trivial praxis of eating, but an experience that is worth remembering.

Additionally, it is also crucial to mention that the intoxicating experience of dinning at Paludan Bogcafe comes with the pleasant twists that while you eat you can easily pick any book from the shelve and read in it. If you happen to like the book, you can even buy it. The books come in a variety of prices: the cheapest start at 10kr, while the most expensive can cost around 200kr. The food, however, is also very affordable, and ranges from 79–119kr per dish.

Mixing the old with the new, Paludan Bogcafe has managed to create a unique atmosphere where colleagues, friends, students, and families can gather to enjoy the company of each other and books. If you have not tried it yet, do not hesitate – book a table now.